> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tenantcore.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Microsoft Tenant Setup

> How to create a Microsoft 365 tenant from scratch and prepare it for cold email infrastructure, step by step.

## Overview

This guide walks through creating a new Microsoft 365 tenant directly through Microsoft and getting it ready to connect to TenantCore. If you already have a tenant with Global Administrator access, skip to [Connect your tenant to TenantCore](#connect-your-tenant-to-tenantcore).

If you are looking to purchase licenses through a CSP or reseller instead, refer to the [Prerequisites](/getting-started/prerequisites) page for guidance on that path before continuing here.

***

## Step 1 — Create a Microsoft 365 account

Go to [microsoft.com/microsoft-365/business](https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/business) and select a plan.

### Choosing a plan

For cold email infrastructure, the two minimum viable options are:

* **Microsoft 365 Business Basic** at \$6/month — includes Exchange Online plus additional Microsoft 365 services you do not need but do not hurt anything
* **Exchange Online Plan 1** at \$4/month — Exchange only, no additional services

Both include:

* Exchange Online mailboxes
* 50 GB mailbox storage
* Web-based Outlook access
* Exchange Online Protection (spam filtering and transport rules)

You do not need Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, or desktop Office apps for cold email purposes. Either plan covers everything TenantCore requires.

### Signup process

1. Click **Buy now** on your chosen plan
2. Enter a new email address for the account (this becomes your Global Administrator account)
3. Create your `.onmicrosoft.com` domain — this is the default domain Microsoft assigns to every tenant (e.g. `yourcompany.onmicrosoft.com`)
4. Complete billing and identity verification
5. You will land in the Microsoft 365 admin center

<Note>
  The `.onmicrosoft.com` domain is permanent and cannot be changed. It is used internally by Microsoft but you will not be sending email from it. Custom domains are added and managed through TenantCore after you connect your tenant.
</Note>

<Warning>
  The country you select during Microsoft 365 signup determines the data region your tenant is provisioned in, which determines the IP ranges your outbound mail routes through. If you purchase a tenant from India, your sending IPs will be from Microsoft's India region. Purchase your tenant from the same country or region where your recipients are located for the best deliverability outcome.
</Warning>

***

## Step 2 — Purchase licenses

TenantCore requires 1 Exchange Online license per tenant. Before connecting your tenant, make sure at least one license is assigned.

1. Go to **Billing → Licenses** in the admin center
2. Verify that the plan purchased in the previous step is available.

That single license covers the entire tenant and all shared mailboxes TenantCore provisions on it, up to the ceiling of 36 mailboxes across 12 domains.

***

## Step 3 — Confirm Global Administrator access

TenantCore requires Global Administrator credentials to connect a tenant. Confirm your account has this role:

1. Go to **Users → Active users**
2. Click your admin account
3. Under **Roles**, confirm **Global administrator** is listed

If you are setting up a tenant for a client and need to create a separate admin account for TenantCore access, create a new user, assign the Global Administrator role, and use those credentials when connecting the tenant.

***

## Connect your tenant to TenantCore

With your tenant created and admin access confirmed:

1. Open the [TenantCore app](https://app.tenantcore.io) and go to **Tenants**
2. Click **Connect Tenant**
3. Enter your Global Administrator email and password
4. TenantCore will authenticate, configure Exchange Online, and register the tenant

The connection process takes under 60 seconds. Once connected, your tenant is ready for domain attachment and mailbox provisioning through TenantCore.

<Card title="Back to Quickstart" icon="bolt" href="/getting-started/quickstart">
  Continue with domain setup and mailbox provisioning
</Card>